Page 15 of Sassy & Sixty

"Nonsense," Lisa said briskly. "You're in need of emergency intervention, and we're your style paramedics."

Catherine brought up the rear, looking slightly overwhelmed by the rapid fire chatter of the others. "I brought wine," she said, holding up a bottle like a peace offering. "I thought we might need it."

"Oh, bless you," Rosie said fervently. "I think we're going to need more than one bottle."

As they piled into Rosie's bedroom, Emma immediately made a beeline for the wardrobe. "Right, let's see what we're working with here... oh my. Rosie, darling, when was the last time you bought something that wasn't beige?"

Rosie felt her cheeks warm. "Beige is a perfectly respectable colour," she protested.

"For a carpet, maybe," Emma retorted, tossing aside blouse after blouse. "Aha! Now this has potential."

She held up a deep green wrap dress that Rosie had forgotten she owned. It had been an impulse buy years ago, worn once to a Christmas party and then relegated to the back of the wardrobe.

"I can't wear that," Rosie said, eyeing the dress dubiously. "It's too... young."

"Nonsense," Lisa interjected, taking the dress from Emma and holding it up to Rosie. "It's classic. Timeless. And it'll bring out the colour of your eyes beautifully."

"But..." Rosie began, only to be cut off by Julie.

"No buts," Julie said firmly. "Trust us, Rosie. Mike won't know what hit him."

As Rosie reluctantly tried on the dress, Catherine busied herself pouring generous glasses of wine for everyone. "Dutch courage," she said with a wink, handing Rosie a glass.

"Now," Emma said, rubbing her hands together with glee. "Let's talk hair and makeup."

What followed was a whirlwind of activity that left Rosie feeling like she was in the eye of a very glamorous storm. Julie, with her artistic eye, took charge of makeup, wielding brushes and palettes with the precision of a master painter.

"Hold still," Julie instructed, applying eyeshadow with intense concentration. "I'm going for a smoky eye effect."

"Smoky eye?" Rosie squeaked. "Isn't that a bit much for dinner?"

"Trust the process," Julie said serenely. "You'll see."

Meanwhile, Lisa had taken on the challenge of Rosie's hair. "When was the last time you had a proper cut and colour?" she asked, frowning at Rosie's reflection in the mirror.

“Yesterday. I went to that place down the road. It was only £20.”

Lisa's raised eyebrow spoke volumes. "Right. We're booking you an proper appointment first thing tomorrow. But for now, we'll work with what we've got."

As Lisa began teasing and styling, Emma rummaged through Rosie's jewellery box. "Surely you must have something here that isn't... oh, hello. What's this little beauty?"

She held up a pair of dangly earrings that Rosie had almost forgotten about. They'd been a gift from Derek years ago, never worn because they seemed too flashy for everyday life.

"Perfect," Emma declared. "These will add just the right amount of sparkle."

Catherine, meanwhile, had been tasked with shoe selection. She emerged from Rosie's closet looking triumphant. "I found these," she said, holding up a pair of strappy sandals with a modest heel. "They're not too high, but they'll elongate your legs beautifully."

Rosie eyed the shoes warily. "I haven't worn heels in years," she admitted. "What if I fall flat on my face?"

"Then Mike will have a chance to show off his bedside manner," Emma quipped, earning herself a playful swat from Lisa.

As the makeover progressed, fuelled by wine and increasingly outrageous stories of past dating disasters, Rosie’s nerves begin to settle. The laughter and camaraderie of her friends was infectious, reminding her that no matter what happened on this date, she had a support system to fall back on.

Finally, after what felt like hours of primping and polishing, Emma declared the transformation complete. "Ladies," she said with a flourish, "I give you the new and improved Rosie!"

Rosie turned to look in the full-length mirror and gasped. The woman staring back at her was her, but somehow way more than her. The green dress hugged her curves in all the right places, the subtle makeup enhanced her features without overwhelming them, and her hair fell in soft waves around her face.

"Oh my," she breathed, turning this way and that. "Is that really me?"

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